Tamika Hull, a student on placement as national infrastructure officer at the Planning Inspectorate, on getting started in property, the challenges she has overcome and her cultural recommendations.
What qualities do you most value in people?
Curious people who have a genuine interest in expanding their knowledge and wanting to understand the world better. Children are some of the most curious people in the world and as we grow older it is easier to lose sight of that. I admire it when people can still connect with the child that lives in us all.
What do you like most about yourself?
I’m positive and open-minded, which allows me to adapt easily to challenging situations.
How did you join the property industry?
I have always been interested in the built environment. I wanted to be an architect and then a civil engineer. Now I am studying urban planning at Cardiff University and am loving it.
What do you like most about the property industry?
The dynamism. It is constantly changing to reflect the times we live in. I like how this can tell the stories of how space is used and occupied.
And what do you dislike most about the property industry?
The lack of diversity. There is so much value in seeing yourself represented in a space. I would love to see diversification in the workforce to give minority communities faith that the property industry both sees and appreciates them and that that is reflected in the built environment that we all occupy.
What barriers or challenges have you overcome in the course of your career?
Being taken seriously as a young woman in the industry has been hard at times. However, as I have become more confident in the importance of engaging young people in the property industry, I have found I am able to communicate with senior professionals with a greater assurance. I now see my age and gender as my power, not my weakness.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Winning the 2020 Women in Property Student Awards. In such a strange year, this has come as a real blessing, making the accomplishment feel even greater. To me, it signifies the hard work I have channelled into every aspect of my life so far, and it has provided me with the confidence to approach any future opportunities with honesty and enthusiasm.
What advice would you give someone starting a career in the property industry?
Stay open-minded and ask lots of questions – if you never ask, you’ll never know – and learn from your mistakes.
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